Revealed: Police Circular Prohibiting Marriage Between IG and Junior Officers

The battle between the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris and Senator Isa Misau is far from being over, especially now that the matter has been taken to the Senate. One of the issues that came up borders on the alleged romance between the Inspector-General and some female officers, including one Corporal Amina, who allegedly got unduly promoted as a result of her alleged romance with the IG. Interestingly, Misau, who started it all, is not a stranger to police matters; apart from leaving the Force as a senior officer, Misau was born into the police system. His father retired as an Assistant Inspector-General of Police while his mother retired as an Inspector. Both got married as serving officers.

In his written response to the Senate, the Inspector-General had challenged the Senator to cite the part of the Police Act and Regulation that forbids a police officer from marrying another police officer. “Until he brings such section of the Police Act, it will amount to discussing the Inspector-General of Police’s private life, which ordinarily should not have been entertained on the floor of the Senate”, the IG stated.

The Anchor Online has however obtained a circular of the Nigeria Police Force which prohibits marriage between senior police officers and other ranks. The circular No: CB: 4001/FS/FHQ/ABJ/VOL.3/300 dated 17^th December, 2102 disallows marriages between Senior Police Officers and Members of the Inspectorate and Rank and File.

The circular, signed by DIG Suleiman Fakai stated clearly that “the Inspector-General of Police has directed that henceforth Senior Police Officers (SPOs) will not be allowed to marry Woman Police Officers of Inspectorate Cadre/Rank and File and vice-versa”.
It was also contained in the circular that “in a situation where any Senior Police Officer and a Woman Police below Officers’ cadre desire to marry, either of them will be required to disengage from the service”.
The move was deemed necessary “to enhance discipline, good conduct and regimentation on which the force is anchored. The above directive is to reinforce the provision of 2013 Ratified Force Order No 198.”